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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. M.'MERROW & WAH. STEDMAN.

GROCHETING MACHINE.

No. 505,275. Patentedept. 19, 1893.

(No Model.) 4 4Sheets-Shrew; 2.

J. M. MBRROW z5 W. H. STBDMAN. GROGHETING MACHINE.

No. 505,275. Patented 55135.19, 1895 .Mllh n|`1| 1l Il 4 2Q/@Unwesen fSnom/Lions MM www @51g akl'ffrnzw (No1/15.191,) f Y 4 sheetssheet Y J.M. MERRO-Wlv W. H. STBDMAN.

GROGHETINGMAGHINE. v Y No. 505,275.. Patented Sept. 19, 1893.'

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. M. MERROW & W. H. STEDMAN. GROGHBTING MACHINE.

No. 505,275. i Patented Sept. 19, 1893.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OEEICE.

JOSEPH M. MERROVY, OF MERROV, AND WILLIAM I-I. STEDMAN, OF NOR- WICH,CONNECTICUT; SAID STEDMAN ASSIGNOR TO SAID MERROW.

CROCHETING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 505,275, datedSeptember19, 1893.

Application filed May 24, 1892. Serial No.434,194. (No model.)

.T0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOSEPH M. MEREow, of Merrow, in the county ofTolland, and WIL- LIAM H. STEDMAN, of Norwich, in the county of NewLondon, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Crocheting-Machines; and we do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, and to the figures and letters of reference markedthereon.

This invention relates to improvements in or upon that class ofstitch-forming or sewing machines in which a thread is passed throughthe fabric or material and then carried beyond the edge of the latterand interlooped upon itself, either with or without a supplementalthread or threads after the manner of overseaming or crochetingmachines; and it has for its object the mechanical production of avariety of fabrics, edgings, borders or finishes, many of which are newinthe art of crocheting, while others are copies or imitations ofproductions heretofore made laboriously by hand.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a front elevation of themachine with portions of the frame or casing broken away and in sectionto display the working parts. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machinewith some of the covering plates removed or in section to discloseworking parts. Figf is an end View on an enlarged scale of the feedmechanism. Fig. l is a detail View showing a section of the feed-wheel.Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the feed-mechanism taken in the plane ofthe driving shaft. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the pawl-carrier andpawls. Fig. 7 is a top view of pawls and carrier. Fig. 8 is asectionalview of the timing ratchet and connected parts. Fig.' 9 is anelevation' of the devices for actuating the feeding devices.

Similar letters and iigures of reference in the several vviews indicatethe same parts.

In illustrating the preferred embodiment of our present invention wehave shown it as applied to a modified and improved form of the wellknown Merrow crochet machine, the construction `and mode of operation ofwhich are set forth in Patents Nos. 414,234- and IMJ 18, datedrespectively November 5, 1889, and Novernber l2, 1889, and inapplication, Serial No. 418,592, filed January 19, 1892, although, aswill be apparent, certain of the novel features are applicable to otherkinds and. forms of sewing machines.

The stitch forming` mechanism of the machine shoWn includes areciprocating eye pointed needle A, a finger plate B around whichstitches are formed, and a crochet hook or looper C, reciprocatingalternately above and below the finger plate, to grasp the needle threadand interloop the loops formed therefrom, in a manner well known. TheauX- iliary features of said mechanism, are the reciprocating threadcarrier D, the loop hold` ing finger II, the requisite tension and takeup devices for the threads andafeeding mechanism. y

Thecrochet hook C is secured to the hookcarrier C', pivotally supportedupon a block C2 sliding `in guides, and receiving the requisitereciprocating and oscillating motions through the conjoint actioniotthetwo cam cylinders E, E', the llatterbeing secured to their respectiveshafts F F', and connected by gears or otherwise to rotate in unison.

The reciprocating motions of the needle are produced through the agencyof a rock-shaft G, carrying a slotted arm G engaging a pin on the needlebar,s'aid rock shaft receiving motion from an eccentric on the drivingshaft F (the driving pulley being attached to said shaft) through apitman Gr2 connected 'to arm G3 on the rock-shaft.

The thread carrier D, (which is only brought into action when asupplemental thread is to be introduced into the finish) is vibrated, to

rpresent the supplemental thread to the hook,

by means of a cam on the end of cam-cylinder, E, operating through anarm D', ,to rock the shaft D2 to which said carrieris'adjustablysecured. Loop holding finger H (which is interposed to engage thesupplemental thread, after a stitch has been completed, and operates tohold a loop thereof while the next succeeding stitch involving thesupplemental thread is being formed) is adj ustably secured to a pivotedsupport H and actuated by a cam H2 on the end of shaft F. The loop hold-IOC ing finger, besides operating to hold a loop or bight of thesupplemental thread, serves to hold the loops upon the crochet-hook asthe latter is advanced above the finger plate to 'engage theneedle-thread, as shown in Fig. 1.

The cam cylinders E E are inclosed and concealed within the housing orcasingl and the guides or ways for block C2, supporting the hook-carrierC', are attached to the front movable section or door I of said housing,so

. that said parts can readily be removed for inspection and repair.

The feeding mechanism comprises a wheel 1 having an overhanging orcrowning flange 2, preferably serrated or toothed upon its periphery,and divided by a narrow circumferential groove 3. Projecting radiallyfrom the wheel is a series of pins 4 (preferably grooved longitudinallyand set in or on the inner end of the flange 2 so that the needle mayreciprocate close to or within the pins) and these pins may be formedwith shanks, bent at an angle as shown, the ends 5 projecting beyond theweb of the wheel, to serve a purpose hereinafter to be explained.

Upon one side of the feed-wheel 1 is formed or secured (preferably thelatter) a ratchet or notched wheel 6 provided with notches presentingangles or shoulders on opposite sides, and said wheels (ratchet andfeed) are su pported to rotate upon a flanged or collared bushing 7detachably secured to the frame and provided with a collar 8 forsustaining the wheels in place upon said bushing, at the same timeproviding for their ready removal, while the removability of the bushingfrom the frame permits the removal of the feeding devices. The bushing 7is bored out to form a bearing for and permit the passage of a shaft 9,which latter controls the operation of the feedingv devices, said shaftreceiving an oscillatory motion from a crank lO on shaft F of lower camcylinder, through pitman 11 and arm 12. The outer end of shaft 9 issupported in a detachable bearing 13, so that, by the removal of saidbearing and the unfastening of the bushing, the feed wheel and connectedparts can be withdrawn.

To the shaft 9 is secured a collar 14, and upon the latter is tightlyclamped an arm or pawl-carrier 15 whose upper or free end is providedwith two reversed pawls 16, 17. The pawl-carrier is attached to theshaft or the collar thereon by a frictional clamp, powerful enough toresist or sustain the pressure and shocks to which it is subjected whenproperly adjusted and clamped, but capable of yielding' in case ofunusual resistance. The two pawls 16 and 17, mounted upon the carrier,are for convenience supported upon a cross pin 1S; and one of said pawls-16- is wider than the other, and projects on opposite sides of thecarrier, as shown in Figs. 6 l

and 7, its end overlying the feed ratchet 6 on one side and the pawlguard 25 on the other. A single spring 19 may be employed for holdingboth pawls to the work, said spring being located and held upon the pinforming the pivotal support for the pawls, with its ends engaging thelatter, as shown.

Beyond or outside of the pawl carrier is arranged what we havedesignated a timing ratchet 2O with the teeth of which pawl 17 isarranged to co-operate, while pawl 16 engages the teeth of ratchet wheel6. The timingY ratchet is supported to rotate upon a flange or collar oncross bar or bearing 13 in which the outer end of shaft 9 has itsbearing, and said ratchet plate is held in place by a rdisk or collar22. As, during the operation of the device, it is desirable that thetiming` ratchet should not be permitted to race or run ahead of theimpelling pawl, andV that it should be held stationary during the returnor inoperative stroke of said pawl, a brake or other restraining deviceis applied thereto; in the present instance these-functions areperformed by friction plates 24 held by adjustable springs 23 againstthe face of the timing ratchet, and operating, by their frictionalcontact, to restrain the movement of the ratchet wheel when not beingadvanced by its pawl 17. The two pawls 16 and17,being reversed andengaging the ratchet wheel 6 on the feed wheel and the timing ratchet20, respectively, if not otherwise controlled they would operate, ateac-h reciprocation of the pawl carrier, to advance their respectiveratchet wheels one or morev teeth, the two wheels moving in oppositedirections. As, however, one of the principal objects of our presentinvention is to provide a feed-mechanism which will remain stationaryduringa series of stitch forming operations and be actuated, to advancethe material, at intervals only, and inasmuch as the pawl carrier isarranged to be reciprocated once for each complete operation of thestitch forming devices, means have been provided for periodicallyinterrupting or suspending the action of the feed-operating pawl 16during any desired numberof reciprocations of the pawl carrier; and itis for the purpose of effecting the automatic engagement anddisengagement of said pawl with the ratchet wheel 6 that the timingratchet is employed. The means shown for thus automatically controllingthe periods of the feeding motion through the agency of the timingratchet and feeding pawll 16, consist of a Acam 26 formed upon the sideof or connected to rotate with the timing ratchet 20, and a pawl guardor switch 25, the latter operating to lift and hold the pawl 16 out ofengagement with the teeth of ratchet wheel 6 during one or morereciprocations of the pawl carrier, and, at properintervals, to effectthe engagement of said pawl with its ratchet wheel, and thus produce afeed motion.

The pawl guard or switch 25 is shown located to one side of the pawlcarrier and beneath the pawl 16, and it carries apin 27 riding upon thecam 26. The pawl guard is pivoted upon bar 13 or other suitable partofthe EIO pawl 16 to engage the teeth of ratchet wheel` 6. At all othertimes the pin, riding on the more elevated or prominent portions of thecam, holds the pawl guard elevated, thereby lifting the end of the pawland sustaining it above and clear of the ratchet wheel 6, so that,

as the pawl carrier reciprocates, the pawl will` `ride freely upon thepawl guard without engaging the ratchet wheel 6, which latter togetherwith the attached feed wheel will remain stationary, Vuntil the timingratchet, which continues to advance, shall bring one of the depressionsin the cam opposite the pin on pawl guard, when the pawl will again bebrought into operative engagement with its ratchet wheel and anotherfeed motion will be produced. It will be seen that the intervalsoccurring between successive feed motionsldepend upon the number andlocation of the depressions in the cam driven by the timing ratchet, andthat the length or extent of feed motion is determined by the throw ofthe pawl carrier and the proportions of the parts.

Practice has demonstrated that unless the motion of the feed wheel isvery slow it is almost sure to be carried, by momentum, bev yond thepoint at which the pawl 16 would carry it in a single forward movement,in other words, it is liable to race ahead and thus destroy or interferewith the regular and determinate action required. This defective` actionis the more objectionable in a machine of the kind shown, wherein it isprovided that, at each forward motion of the feed, one

of the pins or points 4 shall be held in such relation to the needlethat the latter will pass down into the groove in the face of said pin.Hence it has become necessary to supply locking mechanism for arrestingand holding the feedwheel in position at the termination of each step orpartial rotation; and to effect this, as well as to insure the retentionof the feed wheel in proper position at other times when not being actedupon by the feeding pawl 16, We have devised and applied the followinglocking mechanism.

Within the feed case is mounted a rock shaft 30 carrying at one end anarm 31 to which a spring 32 maybe applied, and at the other end carryinga locking pawl 33 having an angular tooth or projection 34 adapted totit the spaces between the teeth on the feed ratchet Wheel 6. The leveror arm 31 is adjustably held by a compression or clamping connectionupon the rock shaft, and is provided with a projecting portion 35against which the compression spring bears, said spring exertingpressure in a direction to force the pawl 33 into engagementwith ratchetwheel 6.

Upon the timing ratchet 20 is mounted a pin or projection 36 in positionto engage the arm 31 and raise the pawl 33 out of engagement withratchet wheel 6. The projection 36 on timing ratchet is so locatedrelatively to the depression in the cam, that it will engage the leverand lift pawl 33 out of the feed ratchet wheel at the time or slightlybefore the depression in the cam causes the retraction of the pawlguard, and thus leave the feed wheel free to be advanced. As, however,the timing ratchet is advanced and set during the back motion of thefeed pawl 16 and in advance of its engagement with the feeding ratchet6, if the projection 36 passes off from the arm 31, the pawl 33 would atOnce return and lock the feed Wheel, but this is prevented by trigger40. The trigger is pivoted to an arm 41 (for convenience formed integralwith the support for rock shaft) and is acted upon by a spring to carryits hooked end over a shoulder 42 on the locking pawl 33. The end 43 ofthe trigger projects into the path of the pins 5 carried by the feedwheel. When the locking pawl has been retracted it Will be rengaged andheld by the trigger until, by the forward motion of the feed-wheel, oneof the pins 5 engages and trips the trigger, when the locking pawl willbe released and swung into engagement with the feed ratchet wheel 6. Thepins 5 are arranged to engage and trip the trigger before completion ofthe forward motion of the feed wheel under the inliuence of feed pawll,and said pins cannot pass the trigger until they have swung it backsufficiently to insure the release of the locking pawl. The pin 36 ispreferably so located upon the timing ratchet 2O as to deect arm 31 andthrow the locking pawl out of engagement with the-feed effect an advanceof the timing ratchet, in

order that the feed wheel may remain locked in position as much of thetime as possible.

When the feed wheel is locked, as shown in Fig. 2, it remains so until,by the intermitting advance movement of the timing ratchet, theunlocking pin 36 deflects lever 31 sufficiently to raise the lockingpawl until it is engaged by the trigger, as shown in Fig. 3, at whichtime the pawl guard is in its lowest position, its pin resting in adepression in the cam, so that upon the next advance of the pawlcarrier, pawl16 will engage the feed ratchet wheel 6 and advance thefeed wheel one step. While the feed wheel is advancing, one of the pins5 trips the trigger in passing,so that thelockingpawl will be disengagedand forced into the next notch in ratchet wheel 6, where it will remainuntil disengaged by the contact of unlocking pin 36 with arm 31. Afterthe advance or feed motion has been completed and the feed wheel lockedin position, the return or retraction of the pawlcarrier advances thetiming ratchet one step, thus elevating the pawl guard and raising thepawl 16 from engagement with the feed ratchet wheel 6, where it ismaintained during the time required for advancing the tim- IOO IIO

ing ratchet, step by step, until the pin 36 again engages arm 3l tounlock the feed wheel v and the depression in the cam permits the pawlguard to be depressed, preliminary to the next advance of the feedWheel.

Any desired number of unlocking pins 36 and corresponding depressions inthe cam surface may be employed with the timing ratchet, to cause thefeeding at the desired times, and when it is desired to feed once duringevery complete reciprocation of the needle, the pawl guard may bedispensed with and an unlocking pin 36 provided for each tooth of thetiming ratchet. It is of course understood that the fabric, if it be ofknit, crocheted or other loose open material is to be placed or impaledupon the pins projecting from the feed Wheel but in commencing anarticle, such as solid crochet work, it is necessary to have a cord,chain or other suitable material placed upon the pins to form afoundation upon which to build the iirst roW of crochet stitches.

The feeding is mainly accomplished by the engagement of the pins withthe fabric, but in order to insure the proper advance of intermediateportions, -to prevent dragging and distortion, the serrated surface ofthe feed wheel is provided for advancing the material, in which case thepins are employed mainly, to locate and determine the points at whichthe stitches shall be incorporated in or attached to the fabric. As thefabric is fed along it must be removed from the pins by hand orotherwise, and to accomplish this automatically a fabric guide 50 isarranged in rear of the presser foot with its pointed end running in thegroove in feed Wheel; but in some cases this fabric guide is foundinsufficient to effect the removal of the material from the pins; hencethe machine is provided with other or additional means for the purpose.l

An eccentric 51 on the shaft F is connected by pit'man 52 with a lever53 pivoted to the frame, as at 54. The front or free end of the lever 53is furnished with a thin flat piece 55 called the fabric cast-off,working along side the inner end or face of the feed Wheel, and which,as it is oscillated, operates to raise the fabric from off the pins. Thefabric cast off is preferably adjusted to rise as the fabric is fed, andto engage the loop projecting beyond the edge of the feed Wheel, thusraising said loops with the fabric oif from the pins of the feed Wheel;and when said fabric cast off is employed in conjunction with a fabricguide 50 Working on opposite sides of the pins, the removal of thefabric is insured. When several stitches are made in one place, that iswith the feed Wheel stationary, the fabric cast o will perform a numberof useless vibrations, but the mechanism is preferable in this machineto such as Would operate only at certain times.

To facilitate the removal or shedding of the loops or fabric from thepoints on the feed wheel, the finger plate which is curved to conform tothe circumference of the feedwheel, has its end bent in a reverse curveor upward.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new is- 1. In acrotchet or overseaming machine, the combination, with the stitchforming devices and a finger around Which the stitches are formed, afeed Wheel provided with a serrated or roughened holding and feedingsurface and a series of pins or points for impaling the fabric;substantially as described.

2. In combination with the stitch forming mechanism of an overseaming orcrochet machine, a fabric feeding mechanism provided With a feed-Wheelhaving impaling points or pins, a fabric guard projecting on one side ofthe impaling pins, and a fabric cast off reciprocating on the oppositeside of said pins; substantially as described.

3. In combination with the feed Wheel and its ratchet wheel; a timingratchet Wheel; a paWl-carrier provided With reversed pawls,

one for the feed and the other for the timing Y ratchet Wheel apaWl-guard for the feed pawl; and a cam actuating said pawl guard andderiving motion from the timing ratchet; substantially as described.

4. In combination With the feed ratchet Wheel, timing ratchet wheel andthe actuating pawls therefor driven in unison, the pawl guard, the camactuating the paWl-guard and driven from the timing ratchet, the lockingpawl and the disengaging pin also driven by the timing ratchet andoperating to unlock the feed ratchet Wheel; substantially as described.

5. In combination with the feed ratchet wheel; timing ratchet wheel;reversed actuating pawls mounted upon a common paWl carrier; pawl guard;cam driven by timing ratchet and actuating paWl-guard; locking paWl;tripping pin on timing ratchet for disengaging locking pawl; and triggerengaging locking pawl; substantially as described.

6. In combination With feed ratchet Wheel; timing ratchet Wheel;actuating pawls for said ratchet Wheels; locking pawl; tripping pin ontiming ratchet Wheel for releasing locking pawl; trigger engaginglocking pawl; and tripping pins for disengaging said trigger;substantially as described.

7. In combination with feed Wheel provided with impaling pins; feedratchet wheel; timing ratchet Wheel; actuating pawls for said ratchetWheels; locking paWl for feed Wheel; trigger engaging locking paWl whenelevated; and a series of pins, equal in nu mber to the impaling pointson feed Wheel, arranged to engage and trip trigger to release lockingdog before termination of feed movement, substantially as described.

8. In combination with feed Wheel provided With trigger operating pinsand ratchet Wheel; timing ratchet Wheel provided`with cam and actuatingpin for locking pawl; a paWl for each of said ratchet Wheels; a pawl IOOIIO

guard for feed operating pawl; a locking pawl for feed ratchet wheel;and a trigger engaging locking pawl, substantially as described.

9. In combination with the feeding devices the feed ratchet wheel andits pawl and the timing ratchet and its pawl; the pawl guard andfriction brake applied to the timing ratchet wheel; substantially asdescribed.

lO. In combination with the feed wheel provided with a ratchet, the rockshaft, and the pawl carrier secured to said shaft by a frictional clamp;substantially as described.

l1. In combination with the feed wheel and its ratchet wheel mountedupon a bushing; a feed actuating shaft journaled in said bushing andprovided with a pawl carrier; a pawl mounted upon said carrier andengaging the feed ratchet wheel; on the forward stroke of the carrier, atiming ratchet; a second pawl mounted upon the carrier and engaging saidtiming ratchet on the back or return stroke of the carrier; a lockingpawl for engaging the feed ratchet wheels mounted upon a rock shafthaving an arm projecting in the path of a pin on the timing ratchet; atrigger engaging said locking pawl when elevated by the timing ratchetWheel; and a pin on the feed wheel arranged to enga-ge and pass thetrigger; and operating to release the locking pawl during the advancemotion of the feed wheel; substantially as described.

12. In combination with the stitch forming mechanism, comprising areciprocating needle, a reciprocating and oscillating hook and a fingerto form and support the stitches beyond the edge of the fabric; afeedwheel provided with impaling points; a fabric guard; a fabric cast off;and actuating mechanism controlling the advance movements of the feedwheel with relation to the number of stitch forming operations, saidmechanism comprising arock shaft driven in unison with the needle andcarrying theimpelling devices for the feed wheel, a timing ratchetWheel` with devices controlling the applicationof said impellingdevices, and a locking device for arresting the movement of the feedWheel, said locking devices being released by the action of the timingratchet and engaged bythe feed motion of the feed wheel; substantiallyas described.

13. The combination, in a machine, such as described, with the stitchforming mechanism, of a feeding mechanism comprising a rotating member,such as a Wheel; actuating de- Vices for advancing said wheelintermittingly; a lock actuated to interrupt and hold said rotatingmember, to prevent overthrowing or displacement; and unlocking mechanismoperating through the lock to release the rotating member or feed wheelpreparatory to the next feed motion, substantially as described.

14. In a crocheting machine, the combination of afeed-wheel and itssupport; aratchet wheel secured to the feed Wheel; a continuouslyreciprocating feeding pawl; a pawl guard; a lock arresting the throw ofthe feed wheel and retaining the latter in position; a cam governing theposition of the pawl guard; and a lock retractin g pin; substantially asdescribed.

15. The combination withafeed-wheel, and actuating mechanism foreffecting intermittent movements of said wheel, of a locking pawlactuated to arrest the feed wheel at the end of each feed-movement andto positively retain said wheel against further movement either forwardor backward in the intervals between successive feedmotions;substantially as described.

JOSEPH M. MERROW. W'ILLIAM STEDMAN.

